Donations still sought for Redman family

Donations are still being sought for a family of five displaced Jan. 27 by a house fire along Springville Highway, as one of their children remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Family spokesman Brandon Jackson said Thursday that Chad and Charissa Redman have been at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor day and night with their youngest daughter, Chloe, 8. She received third- and fourth-degree burns over more than half of her body and suffered smoke inhalation and cyanide poisoning.

Chloe awakened in night to use the bathroom, where the fire — believed to be electrical in nature — started and spread quickly, trapping her in the bathroom. She was rescued by her father, who was burned on his back and feet.

The Redmans’ son, Christian, escaped injury. Their other daughter, Callie, 11, was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and cyanide poisoning, but was discharged from the hospital Monday, Jackson said.

“She’s coughing and has emotional trauma yet, but (otherwise) she is back to her old self, eating strawberries,” he said.

Chloe was in stable but critical condition at the hospital as of Thursday, Jackson said.

She is in a medically induced coma most of the time, Jackson said, as well as on paralysis-causing medications to help with pain in between.

“She’s responsive if they take her off the paralytics,” Jackson said. “She needs a lot more prayers.”

Chloe has had several skin graft surgeries to repair some of the burn damage. Her eyesight also appears to have been saved from damage caused by the fire and smoke, Jackson said. She will likely be in the hospital for the next two to three months, and will face additional skin graft and cosmetic surgeries.

Jackson said the Redmans “are all in positive spirits despite the trauma, due in part to the outpouring of help from the community.”

“The local support has been phenomenal,” Jackson said. “They’re hearing from people they don’t even know.”

The Cambridge Township Fire Department and Onsted Community Schools continue to collect items and money for the family.